Basketball Shooting Training Device

ABSTRACT

A basketball shooting training device of molded rubber adapted to be securable to a basketball rim without additional fasteners and adapted to reduce the size of the goal area. Wherein the device is equipped with an IR proximity sensor and Bluetooth, the basketball shooting training device becomes connected to the internet of things and provides feedback and motivation to train via a mobile app.

BACKGROUND

Devices have been developed to assist basketball players in improving their shooting ability. Many such devices attach to the basketball rim, however, they are often not durable, not easy to install, do not provide feedback, or do not allow a basketball game to be played with the device installed. For example, one such device is difficult to install on a basketball rim in view of the use of bolts, is made of metal, does not fit a majority of basketball rims such as the new double rim hoop and increases the height of the rim considerably.

SUMMARY

According to one aspect of the invention, a basketball shooting training device is provided for use with a basketball backboard and a rim having an inner rim diameter. The device includes a ring portion having an inner ring diameter smaller than the inner rim diameter and defining a goal area, a base portion extending from the ring portion and adapted to be positioned adjacent the backboard, two legs extending from the ring portion and adapted to receive the rim in a space therebetween and a rim space void internal to the ring portion and the legs. The device is formed by pouring liquid rubber into a mold and allowing the liquid rubber to harden. The device is securable to the rim by positioning the rim in the rim space void without the need for any fasteners and such that the device extends no more than approximately 0.5 inches from the rim in a direction opposite the legs.

In another aspect of the invention, a basketball shooting training system is provided for use with a basketball backboard and a rim having an inner rim diameter. The device includes a ring portion having an inner ring diameter smaller than the inner rim diameter and defining a goal area, a base portion extending from the ring portion and adapted to be positioned adjacent the backboard, two legs extending from the ring portion and adapted to receive the rim in a space therebetween, a rim space void internal to the ring portion and the legs, a sensor positioned on one of the ring portion and the base portion to determine when a basketball crosses the goal area and an application in communication with the sensor to provide a timer and provide a count of basketballs that cross the goal area. The device is formed by pouring liquid rubber into a mold and allowing the liquid rubber to harden. The device is securable to the rim by positioning the rim in the rim space void without the need for any fasteners and such that the device extends no more than approximately 0.5 inches from the rim in a direction opposite the legs.

Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a basketball shooting training device of the present invention installed on a basketball rim;

FIG. 2 is a top view of a standard basketball rim and backboard;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the basketball shooting training device;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the basketball shooting training device installed on a basketball rim;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the basketball shooting training device installed on a basketball rim;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view along line 6-6 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of the basketball shooting training device with a sensor and application on a smart device.

Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of constructions and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to FIG. 1, the invention is shown which includes a basketball shooting training device 10. The device 10 is designed to snap fit over a standard basketball rim 12 attached to a basketball backboard 14 and stay in place without the use of any fasteners or extra attachments. It should be noted that the device 10 is adapted to fit with a majority of basketball rims having an inner diameter D without the device 10 installed and a base 16 as is shown in FIG. 2.

With reference to FIG. 3, the device 10 is shown in particular. Preferably, the device 10 is manufactured from a material such as a lightweight durable rubber, for example Alumilite Flex Series Urethane or comparable material. The device 10 is preferably manufactured from a custom mold, as is known in the art, made using a standard basketball rim 12 to ensure a tight fit. The device 10 made from the mold has an inner diameter D* that is less than diameter D of the rim 12. The device 10 when installed thus reduces the size of the goal area G* inside the rim 12. For example, the inner diameter D* can be 17″, 16.5″ or 16″ compared to the inner rim diameter D of 18″. The material is further preferably a hard rubber compound that requires mixing and pouring into the mold and hardens such as in approximately two hours. Once the material is hardened, the device 10 is removed from the mold and any optional equipment such as a sensor or indicia, as will be explained in detail below, can be installed or applied at that time.

As shown in FIGS. 3-6, the device 10 includes a ring portion 18, a base portion 20 extending in one direction from the ring portion 18 that is preferably square but can be of different geometries, and a pair of legs 22 extending from the ring portion 18 in a second direction and having a space therebetween. Internal to the ring portion 18 and the legs 22 is rim space area void 24 adapted to receive and house the rim 12.

The device 10 is installed or secured on the rim 12 by aligning the base portion 20 with the base 16. With the legs 22 aligned with the rim 12 therebetween, a downward pressing force press is applied until the device 10 slips in the space between the legs and over the rim 12 so that the rim 12 is positioned between the legs 22 and moves into the rim space void 24. A further downward pressing force is applied around the entire ring portion 18 until the rim 12 fills the entire rim space void 24 and the device 10 is firmly seated on the entire rim 12. Installed, the device 10 extends minimally above the rim 12 a distance R such as in the range of 0.25 to 0.75″ and more particularly, approximately 0.5″.

To utilize the device 10, users are able to practice shooting and increase accuracy using the device 10 installed on the basketball rim 12. The device 10 enables the user to become more accurate with their shot attempts to successfully pass through the goal area G*. Practicing basketball shooting using a smaller goal area G* than is used during games, will improve the users shot percentage during games. Preferably, the device 10 is utilized every time a user practices shooting.

With reference to FIG. 7, optionally a system is provided that includes the device 10 and a sensor 26 attached to or embedded into the material during manufacture. Preferably, the sensor 26 is an IR sensor such as available from LGDehome as an IR Infrared Obstacle Avoidance Sensor and Infrared Photoelectric Reflection Sensor Module. The sensor 26 is adapted to determine if a shot is a make or miss such as by adjusting the detection distance. The sensor 26 is preferably in communication such as via a Bluetooth signal with an application 28 on a smart device 30 such as a smart phone. The sensor 26 and application 30 provide the user with feedback by tracking made baskets and keeping time. This allows the user to race against the clock and set a target goal. The application 28 can allow users to create a profile and measure progress against a set goal, share with friends and participate in a social circle leader boards and public leader boards. The application 28 can help the user track their progress as they improve their basketball shooting ability. The application 28 also provides a social aspect to basketball shooting training to add to improved motivation to train and assist coaches in tracking players workouts.

Various features and advantages of the invention are set forth in the following claims. 

1. A basketball shooting training device for use with a basketball backboard and a rim having an inner rim diameter, the device comprising: a ring portion having an inner ring diameter smaller than the inner rim diameter and defining a goal area; a base portion extending from the ring portion and adapted to be positioned adjacent the backboard; two legs extending from the ring portion, each leg is selectively pivotable along a longitudinal axis to adjust an amount of space between the legs, the space adapted to receive the rim in a space therebetween; and a rim space void internal to the ring portion and the legs; wherein the device is composed of harden liquid rubber; and wherein the device is snap fit to the rim by positioning the rim in the rim space void without the need for any fasteners and such that the ring portion and the two legs surround all of the rim to hold the device in place on the rim.
 2. The basketball shooting training device of claim 1 and further including a sensor embedded in one of the ring portion and the base portion to determine when a basketball shot is made.
 3. The basketball shooting training device of claim 2 and further including a smart device in communication with the sensor.
 4. The basketball shooting training device of claim 1 wherein the rubber is urethane.
 5. The basketball shooting training device of claim 1 wherein the inner ring diameter is between 16 inches and 17 inches.
 6. A basketball shooting training system for use with a basketball backboard and a rim having an inner rim diameter, the device comprising: a ring portion having an inner ring diameter smaller than the inner rim diameter and defining a goal area; a base portion extending from the ring portion and adapted to be positioned adjacent the backboard; two legs extending from the ring portion and adapted to receive the rim in a space therebetween; a rim space void internal to the ring portion and the legs; a sensor positioned on or in one of the ring portion and the base portion so as to not block the goal area and to determine when a basketball shot is made; and a software application in communication with the sensor to provide a timer and provide a count of basketball shots made; wherein the device is composed of hardened liquid rubber; and wherein the device is firmly seated on the rim by positioning the rim in the rim space void without the need for any fasteners.
 7. The basketball shooting training device of claim 1 wherein when the device is not installed on the rim, the space between the two legs is less than the diameter of the rim.
 8. The basketball shooting training system of claim 6 wherein the sensor is an IR sensor.
 9. The basketball training shooting system of claim 6 wherein the sensor does not contact the basketball to determine when a basketball shot is made. 